The Purdue School of Nuclear Engineering’s senior design program highlights how students apply their knowledge to solve real-world challenges across energy, industry, and advanced technologies. Working with national labs and industry partners, these teams tackled complex problems and translated them into practical, innovative solutions.

Award-Winning Project

Framatome — Neutron Source Design for Reduced ²²Cf Usage
Team Members: Peter Bradshaw, Veronica Miller, Tyrone Shields, Parker Smith
Senior Design Team Framatome earned the School's 2025–26 Academic Achievement Award for Best Design Poster. Their project focused on reducing reliance on a rare and expensive neutron source by improving placement and detection methods, helping maintain safety while lowering costs.

Project Mentor/Sponsor: Alex Scheppert (Framatome)

Featured Senior Design Projects

Argonne National Laboratory — Design of Liquid Sodium Distillation Process for use with Spent Cold Trap Analysis
Team Members: Stella Betts, Everett Nally, Ryan Pappano, Jessica Williams
This team designed a system to safely remove liquid sodium from used reactor components, making inspection easier and improving safety.

Project Mentor/Sponsor: Teddy Kent (Argonne National Laboratory)

Blue Wave AI Labs — Optimization of High-Burnup LEU+ BWR Fuel using Large Language Model Iteration
Team Members: Mitch Bolen, Maximilian Fultz, Ethan Gersos, Ethan Winchester
Students used AI tools to improve how nuclear fuel is arranged, helping it last longer and perform more efficiently while staying within safety limits.

Project Mentors/Sponsor: Rizki Oktavian, Anirudh Tunga (Blue Wave AI Labs)

BWXT — Designing a Poison Pebble Injection System within BANR
Team Members: Nathan Chapman, Izzy Rudin, Ian Smith, Elli Thomas, Sophie Witters
This project created a flexible way to control reactor power using small pellets instead of traditional control rods, improving safety and responsiveness.

Project Mentor/Sponsor: Abbey Donahue (BWXT)

Duke Energy — Design and Implementation of a Universal Core Design for AI Data Centers
Team Members: Mark Doll, Seth Jackson, Riley Madden, Kyle Rea, Connor Schleeweis
The team designed a nuclear reactor core tailored for powering AI data centers, focusing on efficiency, cost, and reliable energy output.

Project Mentor/Sponsor: Angela Burkhart (Duke Energy)

Idaho National Laboratory — Microreactor System Design for Asphalt Production
Team Members: Jonathan Berg, Jess Bober, Graham Doty, Grace O’Neil
Students explored whether small nuclear reactors could provide heat for asphalt production, offering a cleaner and potentially more efficient alternative.

Project Mentor/Sponsor: David Reger (Idaho National Laboratory)

Idaho National Laboratory — Design of Novel Carnot Battery Thermal Energy Storage System for SMRs
Team Members: Daniel Barna, Riley Colbert, Delanie Day, Aidan Dooley
This team designed a system that stores extra energy as heat and releases it when needed, helping nuclear plants better match energy demand.

Project Mentors/Sponsor: Ilyas Yilgor, Victor Coppo Leite (Idaho National Laboratory)

Idaho National Laboratory — Molten Salt Thermal Energy Storage Device Design to Promote Natural Circulation
Team Members: Charles Behrman, Race Bettich, Cameron Dooley, Carter Eckardt
The project focused on using molten salt to store heat more effectively, improving energy storage and flexibility for nuclear systems.

Project Mentors/Sponsor: Ilyas Yilgor, Victor Coppo Leite (Idaho National Laboratory)

Oak Ridge National Laboratory — 3S Designs for Pebble Bed Modular Reactor Fuel Handling System
Team Members: Chloe Fanning, Cole Johnson, Mark Miller, Nicodemus O’Brian, Noraa Silver, Preston Valentine
Students improved reactor fuel handling systems to enhance safety, security, and safeguards, reducing risks like misuse or accidents.

Project Mentor/Sponsor: Scott Nelson (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

Westinghouse — eVinci™ TRISO Fuel Alternative
Team Members: Cole Baker, Walker Burns, Jack Johnson, Avery Reigner, Bradley Sapoff
This team developed a more affordable version of advanced nuclear fuel while maintaining strong safety and performance standards.

Project Mentor/Sponsor: Michael Shockling, T-Ying Lin (Westinghouse)

Westinghouse — Westinghouse Lunar Reactor
Team Members: Jaclyn Fabry, Tyler Fitts, Alex Handell, Caleb Hudson, Madeline McFeely
Students designed a nuclear reactor system for use on the moon, focusing on how to safely manage heat in space.

Project Mentor/Sponsor: Michael Shockling, T-Ying Lin (Westinghouse)